Cable guiding apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 12, 1952 A TTOR/VEV Nov. 3, 1953 H. s. PIKE CABLE GUIDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. l2, 1952 /A/VEA/mp H ,5. P/K

Hy mep Afro/sway Patented Nov. 3, 1953 mln-ian enmif eminem N. Ye a ramon nf-Newton:

v lssgrsmnnmassm 1o (o1. 242-157) ThisV invention .relates toffapparatusing cables yand "more particularly -tocalileguiing rajpparatus ,ff'or distributing feeble-zon -tsheup reels.

v11n certain reeling :mech whenlmeasured lengths -of cable )fare :to Kbe withdrawn :fromm supplyfreel and -woundfonfa takeup meelfoounter tra-vel with ythe distributing xmechanism reciprocatesbetween predetermined pending u-pon the width lof each takenp freel. In such instances-itis important to cause not only uniform fdistributionffof Athe cable KA'on-'the Vtaikeup reelbut to guide the cable in :a-fgiven'path relative to the counter unit imv establish accurate measurement lof the cable. .Fnrthernwre, the cables which `are .measured-fand distributed upon takeup reels 'vary in sise presentingl theadded problem of accuratelyguiding'fall cablesv isi-a given path 'relative to the `tcmmter unit less ofthe crosssectional 'd or the cables.

An yobject `of 'fthe present invention '.lsmiI .upparatus which 'is simple in stn'i'ctm'e, m able and vhighly ei'cie'nt nmding tles'fof urb ous sizes :in .a given path. f

With this and .other obiectsin' View, the irlvention comprises an upper-atlas Tor guidmg'fclbles of various/sizes singly in a'given path by positioning rollers on arms :at respect to each other zand pmvidingmeansto-actuate the arms whereby the ebe'm'oved simultaneously like distances to engge smgixideY the singly 'along the "giyenpath .More aspeclh'sally. the apparatus 'in the n'esent embodiment of invention 'isa part of wdistributing "rrmechanism employed in combination with @counter unit-end including sets ofv rollers 'disposed side of the'counter unit'fand'supporte-df'by blvotally connected arms under the 'control off-en opera# ing mechanism 'whereby the arms-maybceem-I lated to simultaneously move the rollers inl eich set like distances lrelative tofthe'pethcf-'the cble and cause them to lle tangntlollyot the cbles various sizes.

Other objects and .ldvanielges' be" appill from the following detailed ldescrrlbion whenlcoiv sidered l in conjunction 'with the fceompnying drawings wherein v1-is :a front elevational viewofthefapparatus shown in conjunctionwithe unitl of .avdistributor mechanism.

v2 is anfendelevatlonal-view ofthe-fomit tus and Y F1323 is an isometric View oi.'y one set `atei-ltima rollers.

H W keihe Hmm-ngi. the nfbhepresentet the inventionllni ciude'lm mommy-movable member 'M which is swiped fountain-hawlng 'its eentrallportbn jm'emrrtndaan a vertical plint fI-*I "0! i fdimbutrl Themenber H101 distributor is amovible between vvlprecletaecmine'd limits to `'distribute Ycables l2 -sines fon atakeep reel'notshown. 'Tl'xezpmosefef the Apivot 1H v--thefmember yItis `11o-inflow themen:-

'berV to rook thereon turing 4dfistrlbmtion ycf the cable-on the makeup A cradle I 4 is pivotally supported at 1i between the upper ends of themeniber il' and hostsharizontal merl'nr Il' .mounted on vthe-firmerends thereof to supporti counter unit 1J.. The mnter unit which is shown im combixriaitl'oiel"with7 paratus "for guiding 'is 'the subject "matter of my efr-pending medication, Serial "Number 266,213, illed Jlnmy 12,-11952, *andthe entire mechnismfshcwn'n medi-swings ls @inert of the 'appantusshvwn "in my 'ceepending magalicantieri,l Seriell .268,2 115, :med January 12,-?l952. The 'counter runit illnclde's lrollers yarius sizes ianl it isimprtantthat regardless of site 01' the cable; it 'will J3512""ig'llllt'd in'v fe. gimf path relative to i the VVrtllers 1150i' the center Ti-lisis'fminiemmmed by the roller umts tmpported byv thends "cf arms .21 and 2t mounted* itl theirA` centersy 12min` 'iivbt 2B.

By-viewinrrigssa' and 3., 'it 'will 'be' noted that the roll'uniis u eretdentical .11i structure with the nussibleiexceptimthei'ct "chatche might "be called a "hnlmtjnndthe btherafrignt hand -lnit Ech hlt" liked htfldesi L" 'orrned es jillstrfatejdI infFig. "to receive their respeetlvepairs of rollers and 'support them for rotn "at giles y'with to other lin wlth'vaaosfinvthe size ofthe-cables) thumb" 'roller ythe cable. The :nur 2l indd! up: Lis! equal 'lengthsfnml,;

as the portidsthereo! whih'ixthdfbutwlrdly from y"theqiivotiaothe Bartl N *which* support the-dementi!! are nt" ot the 2| and 22 like distances relative to each other and the counter unit will vary the positions of the rollers to vary the size of the path through which the cable may travel and maintain the center lines of all cables constant regardless of their variations in size. The means for accomplishing this result includes an internally threaded element 30 mounted on a threaded shaft 3| which is rotatable through the aid of a crank 32 and supported in apertured portions 33 of the cradle Il. A collar 34 limits axial movement of the shaft 3| to the right. A spring 35 disposed concentric with the shaft between a collar 36, fixed to the shaft, and the adjacent portion 33 urges the shaft to the right. The internally threaded element 30 is pivotally connected at 38 to like ends of links 31 which have their other ends connected at 38 to the arms 2l and 22.

Considering now the operation of the apparatus, it will be apparent that the roller units 20 in the present adjusted positions will accurately guide the cable I2 in a given path relative to the counter unit I1. Furthermore, the apparatus in the present embodiment of the invention is a part of a distributing mechanism wherein the roller units are constantly reciprocated between given limits with the counter unit to distribute the cable uniformly on a takeup reel. The roller units not only provide the guiding means for the distributor mechanism during the continuously varying path of the cable but maintains the cable in a given path between the rollers of the counter unit.

If the apparatus is to guide a cable of a size different from that shown in the drawings, the operator may actuate the crank 32 to rotate the threaded shaft 3| in one direction or the other depending upon whether the cable to be measured is larger or smaller than the cable I2. Rotation of the threaded shaft 3| will impart movement to the element 30 to move the links 31 and simultaneously move the arms 2i and 22 like distances so that the pairs of rollers in each unit will move like distances relative to the center line of the path through which all of the cables are to travel regardless of their size. The adjustment of the roller units may be such that all of the rollers will tangentially engage their respective portions of the cable to maintain accurate guiding of the cable. Through the existence of the spring 35, the rollers may be forced under variable tensions against the cable. Another function of the spring is to permit relative movement of the pairs of rollers in each unit should there appear in the cable a lportion which i larger than the other portions thereof.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

l. An apparatus for guiding cables of various sizes singly in a given path comprising rollers disposed at angles with respect to each other about the path, arms supporting the rollers in their respective positions, and means operatively connecting the arms actuable to move the arms whereby the rollers will be moved simultaneously like -distances to engage and guide cables of' various sizes singly along the 'given path.

2.V An apparatus tor-guiding cables of various sizes singly ina given path comprising spaced '4 sets of rollers, the rollers in each set being disposed at angles with respect to each other about the path, arms supporting the rollers in their respective positions, and means operatively connecting the arms actuable to move the arms whereby the rollers will be moved simultaneously like distances to engage and guide cables of varioussizes singly along the given path.

3. An apparatus for guiding cables of lvarious sizes singly in a given path comprising rollers disposed at angles with respect to each other about the path, arms supporting the rollers in their respective positions, means operatively connecting the arms actuable to move the arms whereby the rollers will be moved simultaneously like distances to engage and guide cables of various sizes singly along the given path and means to apply like forces to all the rollers to urge them toward the cable.

4. An apparatus for guiding cables of various sizes singly in a given path comprising pairs of substantially right-angularly positioned diametrically opposed rollers, holders for the pairs of rollers in their respective positions about the path, arms supporting the holders, and means to move the arms simultaneously whereby the rollers will engage singly cables of various sizes tangentially at substantially equally spaced positions to guide the cables in the said path. 30'

5. An apparatus for guiding cables of various sizes singly in a given path comprising holding elements disposed on opposite sides of the path. pairs of substantially right-angularly positioned rollers rotatably mounted in their respective po..

sitions in their elements, whereby each roller of one pair will be disposed parallel with and diametrically opposed a roller of the other pair, and means to move the elements simultaneously to position them to guide cables of various sizes.

6. An apparatus for guiding cables of various sizes singly in a given path comprising holding elements disposed on opposite sides of the path, pairs of substantially right-angularly positioned rollers rotatably mounted in their respective positions in their elements, whereby each roller of one pair will be disposed parallel with and diametrically opposed a roller of the other pair, and arms to support the elements mounted for movement whereby the rollers may be moved like distances relative to the .path and maintained for engagement at substantially equally spaced positions about the cables singly.

'7. An apparatus for guiding cables of various sizes singly in a' given path comprising holding elements disposed on opposite sides of the path. pairs of substantially right-angularly positioned rollers rotatably mounted in their respective positions in their elements, whereby each roller of one pair will be disposed parallel with and diametrically opposed a roller of the other pair, and arms to support the elements mounted for movement whereby the rollers may be moved like distances relative to the path and maintained for engagement at substantially equally spaced positions about the cables singly and means actuable to move the arms simultaneously.

- 8. An apparatus for guiding cables of various sizes singly in a given path through a' pre-determined area comprising holding elements disposed in diametrically opposed pairs adjacent the ends of the area, companion pairs oi' substantially right-angularly positioned rollers rotatably mounted in their respective positions in their elements, whereby 'each roller of each pair4 will be disposed parallel with and diametrically opposed a roller of its companion pair, and means to move the elements simultaneously to position them to guide cables of various sizes.

9. An apparatus for guiding cables of various sizes singly in a given path through a pre-determined area comprising holding elements disposed in diametrically opposed pairs adjacent the ends of the area, companion pairs of substantially right-angularly positioned rollers rotatably mounted in their respective positions in their elements, whereby each roller of each pair will be disposed parallel with and diametrically opposed a roller of its companion pair, and arms to support the elements mounted for movement whereby the rollers may be moved like distances relative to the path and maintained for engagement at substantially equally spaced positions about the cables singly.

10. An apparatus for guiding cables of various sizes singly in a given path through a pre-determined area comprising holding elements disposed in diametrically opposed pairs adjacent the ends mounted in their respective positions in their elements, whereby each roller of each pair will be disposed parallel with and diametrically opposed a roller of its companion pair, and arms to support the elements mounted for movement whereby the rollers may be moved like distances relative to the path and maintained for engagement at substantially equally spaced positions about the cables singly, and means actuable to move the arms simultaneously.

HAROLD S. PIKE.

References Cited in the file o1 this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,849,924 Hall et al. Mar. 15, 1932 1,941,250 Dale Dec. 26, 1933 2,255,314 Graham Sept. 9, 1941 

